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“Gerard!”
“Gibs!”
“He’s right,” my brother laughed, dodging the elbow Katie aimed at his ribs. “It sounds like Cap’s doing more than just bulldozing Shannon’s life.”
“They’re certainly not sitting around playing Snap,” Gerard added, eyeing the coffee table with disgust. “What’s happening to us, lads? It’s Saturday night and we’re playing card games like a bunch of geriatrics when we should be out getting off our trolleys.”
“I’m only sixteen, that’s what’s wrong with me,” I offered. “And you three are only seventeen.”
“Not for long.” Waggling his brows, Gerard tossed a handful of Minstrels at Hugh. “A certain brother-in-law is turning eighteen at the end of the month.”
“You are so lucky to have your birthday on Halloween, babe,” Katie added. “How cool is that?”
“Just think, lad, your mam and dad must have had one hell of a Valentine’s that year.”
“Disturbing notion, Gibs,” Hugh groaned, popping a couple of Minstrels in his mouth before tossing the rest back at Gerard. “But impressive conception math.”
“Speaking of.” Scooping one final spoon of alcohol-laced ice cream into my mouth, I set my bowl on the coffee table and sprang to my feet. “We need to talk Halloween costumes.”
“No.” Hugh shook his head. “We really don’t.”
“Yes, we do,” I argued, rubbing my hands together. “Mam’s throwing a party at the house for your birthday at Halloween. It’s fancy dress—and it’s not optional.”
“Woo-hoo.” Draining his glass of sherry, Gerard stared into the empty glass before reaching for the bottle. “What are we going as this year, babe?”
Brimming with excitement, I swung around to give him my full attention. “Okay, so this year, since there’s an even ratio of girls to boys in our group, five on five, I was thinking we could all go as famous couples.”
Frowning in concentration, Gerard unscrewed the cap on Granny’s sherry bottle and took a deep swig. “I’m listening.”
“Picture this,” I told him, waving my hands around animatedly. “You and me, rocking it out in PVC leather.”
Confusion swept over his face. “Are we going as Motley Crue?”
“No, silly, Danny and Sandy,” I laughed. “From Grease.”
His eyes lit up. “I fucking love that movie!”
“I know. I’ve been working on our costumes already.” Smiling bashfully, I added, “So, for Joey and Aoife, I was thinking Joker and Harley Quinn.”
“Oh yeah, I can totally see that,” Katie said with an enthusiastic nod. “But will she want to dress up?” Shrugging, she added, “You know, after given birth and all that?”
“Oh please, you’ve seen that body of hers,” I shot back. “The girl is even more smoking hot post-baby than she was pre-baby.”
“Agreed,” Katie replied. “I would kill for Aoif’s figure.”
“I know, right?” I beamed. “And then for you guys, I was thinking Edward and Vivian from Pretty Woman.”
“Huh.” Frowning, Katie tilted her head to one side and asked, “Wasn’t she a prostitute?”
“And didn’t he have gray hair?” Hugh added, looking equally skeptical.
“You’re blond, Hugh. It’s close enough. Make it work,” Gerard tossed out, thoroughly enjoying our granny’s Christmas sherry. “Now, don’t interrupt your sister’s creative process, dammit.” He took another huge swig from the bottle and waved a hand around aimlessly. “As you were, sweetheart.”
Smiling indulgently at his adorable drunken expression, I quickly continued. “And then for Johnny and Shan, it’s a no-brainer.”
Katie smiled. “Romeo and Juliet?”
“Yes!”
